A Brief History of Salem United Methodist Church

Salem has had a long and successful history of responding to God's various challenges and opportunities in our community.

The present church is the product of three congregations and denominations converging. They were the Evangelical Association congregation located in downtown Council Bluffs, the Dumfries congregation located about 7 miles southeast of our current site on Old Pioneer Trail, and several families moving from the Silver Creek congregation about 25 miles northeast of here.

In 1893 a church was erected at a cost of $6000. Features of the early church were straight back benches and a large drum stove in the center of the room. A small stand with a signal bell on it stood in front of a small pulpit. Behind this were two caned, arm chairs. A long bench was placed in front of the pulpit where penitent souls would kneel and pray during revival meetings as well as receive the sacrament of holy communion. An original melodeon was later replaced by an organ.

Salem was originally from the Evangelical denomination which was started in 1858 under Rev. J.F. Schreiber from the Illinois conference. Four years later they voted to build a church at Pierce and Glen Avenue at the cost of $1000. The first Sunday School was organized in 1863, Youth Fellowship in 1893, the Ladies' Aid in 1895 and the Women's Missionary Society in 1905.

In 1946 the Evangelical Association united with the United Brethren denomination forming the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Both of these denominations were of German ancestry in Pennsylvania. In April, 1968 the Evangelical United Brethren Church formally united with the Episcopal denomination making the United Methodist Church of which we are now a part.

In 1957 before the merging of the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist, the EUB had voted to relocate. Several sites were considered and some even purchased. But in January of 1968, after the merger, the board voted to relocate here on east highway 92 on the site offered by the S. Iowa Mission Board of the former Methodist Church. This structure was completed and dedicated on Sept. 7, 1969. The building cost was $172,000 but with the site, furnishings and landscaping the total came to approximately $200,000.

In 1970 the parsonage was built across the parking lot from the church. In Sept. 1977 the parking area and driveway were blacktopped and in 1982 and 1983 the Art Glass windows were installed as gifts and memorials. The building has been greatly used since its completion. The Lewis Central School district held classes here for some time and Family Service of Omaha-Council Bluffs leased the facility for a Day Care Center.

In 2002, a $1.2 million expansion & renovation was completed. The kitchen was remodeled, Fellowship Hall doubled in size, an East & West music wing were added, as were the entryway, bathrooms and office space. The parking lot was also expanded to total 162 spaces. In 2007, an additional 40 spaces were added to Salem's parking through an agreement with the neighboring doctor's office.



© Copyright 2008 Salem United Methodist Church, Council Bluffs, Iowa, All rights reserved.